Ancient Trails of the Kumano Kodō
For over a millennium, the network of trails known as the Kumano Kodō (熊野古道) have attracted people from all levels of society on pilgrimages to the sacred sites of Kii […]
Category Archives: Japan
The Thatched Village of Miyama
A mountain retreat north of Kyoto, the rural area of Miyama (美山) is made up of small villages and hamlets scattered along winding valleys and heavily forested hills. The area […]
Osaka Temples and Shrines
Osaka is known for its trendy shopping and street food scenes, but like many cities in Japan has a rich cultural history that is reflected in its many temples and […]
Goodbye 2018, Welcome 2019!
Another year has rushed by and we are already counting down to the next one. Wow, that was fast! As is now tradition, I’ve collected some of my favourite photos […]
Spring at Dazaifu Tenman-gū
Dazaifu Tenman-gū (太宰府天満宮) is a Shinto shrine located some 45 minutes south of Fukuoka City, and one of the most important shrines dedicated to the spirit of Sugawara Michizane, a government […]
The Yūtoku Inari Shrine
The Yūtoku Inari Shrine (祐徳稲荷神社) is dedicated to Inari, the deity whose messengers are foxes and revered for business prosperity, bountiful harvests, and protection from automobile accidents. It is one […]
A Day in Takeo Onsen
Takeo Onsen (武雄温泉) is a hot spring town in western Saga Prefecture that has a history of over 1300 years as an onsen resort destination. A stop on my recent Kyushu roadtrip, I visited the famous […]
Tōzan Jinja, the Potter’s Shrine
Together with the hidden village of Okawachiyama in the adjacent valley, the town of Arita (有田) in Saga Prefecture is considered the birthplace of Japanese porcelain ceramics. For four centuries […]
